Early
years

College
career

Gruden was a four-year letterman at Louisville (1985-1988). He
finished his collegiate career with 7,024 passing yards, completing
572 of 1049 passes for 44 touchdowns. All four stats still rank in
the top five in Cardinals' history. As a senior, Gruden led the
team to an 8-3 mark, their first winning season in 10 years.

Professional
career

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Awards

1992: League MVP & First Team All-Arena-QB

1993: All-Star Game MVP

1995: First Team All-Arena-QB (TB)

1996: AFL's 10th Anniversary Team

1999: AFL Hall of Fame & All-ArenaBowl Team-QB

2001: Second Team 15th Team Anniversary-QB

2006: 20 Greatest Players-#4

Coaching
career

Gruden began his coaching career as the offensive coordinator
for the Nashville
Kats in 1997. Then, in 1998, he became head coach of the Orlando
Predators, the main rival of the Tampa Bay Storm. He won Arena
Bowl titles in 1998 and 2000 as head coach. He un-retired and
resumed playing in 2002, this time for the Predators, but retired
again and returned to head coaching when his replacement, Fran
Papasedero, died after the 2003 season.

In 2009, while the Predators were on hiatus prior to the folding
of the AFL, he was selected to be head coach Jim Haslett's offensive coordinator for the
Florida
Tuskers of the United Football League, a
minor-league outdoor football team also based in Orlando. As part
of his contract, he was not permitted to remain head coach of the
Predators. Instead, former Preds quarterback Pat O'Hara, who led the
team to the two ArenaBowls it won when Gruden was head coach, was
hired in his place.[2]

Personal

Gruden hails from a football family. His father Jim, a long-time
college and NFL assistant coach, recently retired from his position
as regional scout for the San Francisco 49ers. His brother Jon was the head coach of
the Oakland
Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He resides
in Orlando with his wife Sherry and three sons, JJ, Joey and
Jack.